Friction draft-gear for railway-cars.



No. 7|4,s|5. Patented nee. 241902. n T. L. McKeen. Y

VFHIJTION DRAFT GEAR FOR RAILWAY BARS.

(Applifslton led Oct. 2, 1902.) (nu Modal.) 1 2 Sheets-sheat 2,

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THOMAS L. MCKEEN, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ERICTION DRAFT-G EAR FOR.RAILWAYCARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,81 5, dated December 2, 1902.

Application led October 2, 1902. Serial No. 125,636. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it ina/y oon/cern):

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. MOKEEN, a

` citizen of the United States,residin g at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful `Improvements in Friction Draft-Gearfor Railfollowing is a specifiare connected with the draft-bar, a coiled spring or springs located between the intermediate and rear follower-plates, a wedge which is movable with the rear follower-plate and is provided with inclined faces adapted to engage corresponding inclined faces on laterally-movable plates arranged between the front and intermediate followers, and two `sets of leaf-springs, which are arranged between'the front and intermediate followerplates, one set between each laterally-movable plate and the adjacent cheek-plate. In pulling `and bufing the Wedge and coperating laterally-movable plates coperate to compress the leaf-springs, which act, in con junctionwith the coiled springs,ito easethe draft and bufiiu g strains. In this construction the `leaf-springs are in direct friction'al contact with the stationary cheek-plates.

The object of the present invention is to provide a draft and buffing gear of thischaracter in which only one set of leaf-springs is employed, which is located in the axial line of the draft-barbetween` laterally-movable wedge-plates, and in which there is no direct `friction and wearon the springs.

\ A further object of the invention is to provide a friction draft and buffing lgear of generally improved and simplified construction and which can be produced at minimum cost.

In the accompanying drawings, consistingr of two sheets, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of a friction draft and` bufting gear` embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section, partly in plan, of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the push-plates. Fig. 5 is a `perspectiveview showing a sectional push-plate. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the front follower-plate, which connects the two push-plates. Fig. 7 is a perspective view 0f one of the wedge-plates.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures. f

A represents the draft-sills of the car,which are arranged in their usual well-known relation, and B represents cheek-plates or guides, which are arranged opposite to each other and secured to the inner vertical faces of the draft-sills. The cheek-plates, which may be of any suitable construction, are provided neartheir ends with inwardly-projecting vertical stop faces or shoulders l) for the rear follower-plate and the front ends of the pushplates or front follower. i

C represents the rear follower-plate, which is arranged adjacent to the rear stops b to slide between upper and lower inwardly-proj ecting horizontal iianges on the cheek-plates.

D represents two push-plates, which are arranged opposite to each other between the rear follower-plate and the front vertical stop b of the cheek-plates, the push-plates being longitudinally movable between the upper and lower horizontal iianges of the cheekplates. The push-plates are adapted to eugage at their front ends against the front vertical stop-faces b of the cheek-plates in pulling the car. The push-plates -may be of any suitable construction, and they are provided with forwardly-facing stop-shoulders d for the intermediate or center followerplate, which is represented at E, and the push-plates are also provided between the stop-shoulders for the center follower-plate and their rear ends with inclined or beveled faces d. As shown in the drawings, Figs. 2 and 4, the push-plates are in the form of hollow castings provided with longitudinal and vertical strengthening-ribs, the longitudinal ribs pro- KIS suitable manner to move together. As shown, the adjacent or meeting ends of the two sections are provided with interlocking tongues and grooves d4 d5, which connect the plates so that they move together as a single plate. The two push-plates are connected together at their front ends by a transverse plate F, which constitutes the front followerplate. This follower-plate may be formed with or secured to the push-plates in the manner shown or inA any other suitable way. As shown, the front follower-plate is provided at its ends with tenons, which engage in mort-ises in the ends of the push-plates. The two push-plates and follower-plates are thus rigidly connected and caused to move together as a single structure.

Gg represent the usual outer and inner coiled draft and hurting springs. These springs are arranged between and abut at their opposite ends against the front and intermediate follower-plates.

H represents a set or series of spring plates or leaves, which are arranged between and abut at their opposite endsagainst the center and rearfollower-plates. Thespringsareconfined laterally between the wedge-plates I, which are arranged on opposite sides of the spring plates or leaves between the same and the push-plates. Each wedge-plate is provided on its outer side with an inclined or beveled face z', which bears against and cooperates with the inclined or beveled faces d of the two push-plates.

The draw-bar is connected to the followerplates in the usual or any preferred manner. The draw-bar is shown by dotted lines at .I and abuts against the front follower-plate and is connected to the yoke j, which extends around the rear follower-plate, the cross-bar of theyoke bearing against the rear face of the rear follower-plate.

K represents carry-bars,which are arranged longitudinally beneath the cheek-plates and are secured thereto by vertical bolts la or in any other suitable manner. L is a horizontal plate, which is supported at its opposite sides by said carry-bars and extends beneath the wedge-plates and leaf-springs, serving as a support or retainer for these parts.

The operation of the draft and buiing gear is as follows: In drawing the car the drawbar yoke pulls the rear follower-plate C forwardly in its guides and the follower-plate carries the spring plates or leaves H and the wedge-plates I forwardly with it, the center follower-plate being carried forward by the spring-plates H against the tension of the coil draft and bung springs G g. The wedge-plates being carried forward with the rear follower-plate and their inclined or beveled faces engaging the corresponding beveled faces on the pushplates D, they are forced inwardly or toward each other against the opposition of the spring plates or leaves H, thus compressing the spring-plates. Thus both the coiled springs and the spring-plates are compressed or strained and resist the draft, as does also the friction between the contacting beveled faces of the wedge and push plates. In buffing the draw-bar pushes the front follower-plate F and the push-plates D,connected thereto,rearwardly,cornpressin g the coiled draft and buiing springs G g and forcing the intermediate follower-plate rearwardly against the front ends of the springl plates or leaves H. As the wedge-plates are held stationary'by the rear follower-plate C, which abuts against its stop-shoulders b on the cheek plates, the inclined or beveled faces on the push-plates, coacting with the inclined or beveled faces on the wedge-plates, tend to force the latter inwardly or toward each other against the action of the spring plates or leaves. The wedge-plates being held outward by the leaf-springs, their inclined faces shove the push-plates outwardly against the cheek-plates with great force. Thus in bufng also both the coiled springs and spring-plates are strained to relieve the buiiing shock, and in addition the movement of the push-plates is opposed by the friction contact between the same and the wedgeplates and between the push-plates and the cheek-plates. The frictional contact is thus less in pulling than in buiiing, which is desirable, as it makes it easier to start a train than when the friction is the same in both drawing and buffing.

By the construction described it will be observed that but one set of spring leaves or plates is employed, and these spring-plates do not engage with the stationary cheekplates. The wedge plates move with the spring-plates, and there is thereforeno friction between the spring-plates and the movable wedge-plates. The gear is simple and composed of a few parts. The wedge-plates, push-plates, and cheek-plates are all interchangeable, and the push-plates have an extended contact with the cheek-plates.

M M represent upper and lower transverse ties, which may be of any suitable construction capable of holding the cheek plates from spreading under the lateral pressure of the leaf-springs: -As shown, the ties are in the form of straps, the Lipper one having downturned end hooks, which take hold of the upper edges of the cheek-plates, and the lower one having upturned hooks, which take hold o f the outwardly-projecting Iianges on the lower edges of the cheek.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of stationary guides, end and intermediate followers movable relative thereto, stops for said end followers, laterally compressible springs arranged substantially in the axial line of said draw-bar and adapted to move bodily in a longitudinal direction, means for compressing said springs and causing frictional contact with said stationary guides, and one or more springs interposed between said front end and intermediate followers,`substantially as set forth.

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2. The combination of stationary guides, end and intermediate followers movable longitudinally relative thereto, one or more longitudinally compressible springs arranged between one end follower and the intermediate follower, laterally-compressible springs arranged between the other end and intermediate followers, longitudinally-movable wedge-plates on opposite sides of said laterally-compressible springs,and longitudinallymovable push-plates provided with inclined faces cooperating with inclined faces on the wedge-plates Ato cause frictional contact between said push-plates and said stationary guides, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of stationary cheekplates, end and intermediate followers movable longitudinally relative to said cheekplates, longitudinallymovable push-plates, lon gitudinally-compressible springs arranged between one end follower and said intermediate follower, laterally-compressible springs Aarranged between said intermediate and other end follower,and wedge-plates arranged between said laterally-compressible springs andsaid push-plates and provided with inclined faces'coperating with inclined faces il on said push-plates, substantially as set forth.

4J The combination of end and intermediate followers, guides, and stops for said followers, coiled springs arranged between one end follower and said intermediate follower, leaf- Vsprings arranged between the intermediate and other end follower, push-plates which are movable with one of said endfollowerplates, and wedge-plates arranged between said leaf-springs andpush-plates and provided with inclined faces cooperating with inclined faces on the push-plates, substantially intermediate and rear followers, push-plates movable on said stationary guides and connected tosaid front follower to move therewith, wedge-plates between-said leaf-springs and follower-plates, and coperating inclined faces on said wedge-plates and push-plates,

substantially as setforth.

6. Thecombination of stationaryguides, a rear longitudinally-movable follower, longitudinally-movable push-plates, stops on said `guides for said follower and push plates, a

ally-compressible springs between said inermediate and rear followers, movable wedgeplates between said laterally--compressible springs and said push-plates, and engaging inclined faces on said wedge-plates and pushplates, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of stationary guides, end and intermediate followers movable longitudinally relative to said guides, laterallycompressible springs which are movable in a longitudinal direction, means for compressing said springs, and causing frictional contact with said guides, springs interposed between said front end and intermediate followers, and a horizontal plate arranged beneath said laterally compressible springs, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination of stationary guides, end and intermediate followers movable longitudinally relative to said guides, laterallycom pressible spring-plates arranged between said intermediate and rear-end followers, springs arranged between said intermediate and front-end followers, longitudinally-movable wedge-plates on opposite sides of said spring-plates, longitudinally-movable pushplates provided with inclined faces coperating with inclined faces on said wedge-plates, and a horizontal retaining-plate arranged beneath said spring-plates and wedge-plates, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of stationary guides, end and intermediate followers movable longitudinally relative to said guides, laterallycompressible springs which are movable in a longitudinal direction, means for compress-v ing said springs and causing frictional contact with said guides, springs interposed between said front-end and intermediate followers, and ties connecting said guides to prevent the same from spreading, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 25th day of September, 1902.

THOMAS L. MCKEEN.

Vitnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, C. B. HoRNBEcK.

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